Abstract: A system for starting a vehicle operated particularly by means of a fuel cell system includes devices for the arbitrary initiation of a starting operation of the fuel cell system or of a starting preparation of the vehicle independently of the presence of a driver in the direct proximity of the vehicle, particularly inside the vehicle.

Abstract: A fuel cell system for a motor vehicle, with at least one fuel cell and with a gas generation system, has at least one device for cleaning the air that is taken in. The device is arranged in an area in front of the cathode chamber of at least one fuel cell and/or in an area in front of a gas generation system, and contains at least one element for adsorption of ions and/or hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A method for operating a system for the steam reforming of a hydrocarbon or hydrocarbon derivative starting substance includes, during the cold-starting of the system, at least part of a reforming reactor is used as a multi-function reactor unit. A fuel and an oxygen-containing gas is delivered to the reforming reactor as a catalytic burner unit in a first operating phase. In a subsequent second operating phase, the reforming reactor is a partial oxidation unit for the starting substance. Water may be added shortly before the second operating phase commences. Alternatively, or in addition thereto, the fuel flow rate may be increased with a rising temperature in the first operating phase or a substoichiometric oxygen flow rate may be set as early as in the first operating phase.

Abstract: A starter device, preferably for cold-starting, for fuel cell systems, including a current generation system, for generating electrical energy, and a gas generation system, for generating H2-rich gas for the current generation system. An internal-combustion engine generates mechanical energy, which can be connected to an air compressor for supplying air to the gas generation system via a drive shaft.

Abstract: A tank for receiving a carbon- and hydrogen-containing fluid for supplying a fuel cell system with an operating medium has an inlet and an outlet for the fluid and at least one straining means for the fluid arranged between the inlet and the outlet.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for selective catalytic oxidation of carbon monoxide, the gas mixture and an additionally added oxidizing gas are conducted through a reactor containing the catalyst. Oxidizing gas is added at several points along the mixed gas flow path with a controlled or regulated through flow volume. The mixed gas stream is cooled passively by static mixing structures located in the inlet area of the CO-oxidation reactor. By controlling exothermal CO oxidation along the reactor path, a very variable process guidance is provided, that can be adjusted to individual situations.

Abstract: A vehicle has an internal-combustion engine drive and a fuel cell drive system. Liquid fuel is used to supply energy to the internal-combustion engine drive and the fuel cell system. The internal-combustion engine drive is used for starting the vehicle and for permitting its immediate movement after starting of the internal-combustion engine, as well as for heating the fuel cell system to a working temperature. After the working temperature is reached, the fuel cell is started. Subsequently, an electric driving motor, which is fed by the fuel cell system, alone or together with the internal-combustion engine drive, drives the movement of the vehicle.

Abstract: A process for generating a high-hydrogen, low-carbon monoxide gas comprises generating a product gas in a gas generating device. The product gas contains hydrogen and carbon monoxide that are generated from catalytic water vapor reforming of a water/fuel mixture and/or from partial oxidation of an oxygen/fuel mixture. In a gas purification stage, the carbon monoxide fraction in the product gas is reduced by selective CO oxidation on an oxidation catalyst. During a starting phase, oxygen is admixed to the supplied fuel and the flow direction is reversed such that the flow first takes place through the gas purification stage and only then through the gas generating device.

Abstract: A multistage device for the selective catalytic oxidation of carbon monoxide contained in a hydrogen-rich gas-mixture stream includes at least three stages, each stage having at least one CO oxidation chamber. An oxidizing medium may be metered to an inlet side of each stage. A common cooling device is provided for the first two stages and an independent cooling device is provided for the third stage.

Abstract: A process for generating a high-hydrogen, low-carbon monoxide gas comprises generating a product gas in a gas generating device. The product gas contains hydrogen and carbon monoxide that are generated from catalytic water vapor reforming of a water/fuel mixture and/or from partial oxidation of an oxygen/fuel mixture. In a gas purification stage, the carbon monoxide fraction in the product gas is reduced by selective CO oxidation on an oxidation catalyst. During a starting phase, oxygen is admixed to the supplied fuel and the flow direction is reversed such that the flow first takes place through the gas purification stage and only then through the gas generating device.

Abstract: A methanol reforming reactor includes a reforming reaction space into which a methanol reforming catalyst is charged. The methanol reforming catalyst is present at the start of the reforming reaction operation in a pre-aged state in the reforming reaction space. A process for pre-aging the methanol reforming catalyst comprises heating at a temperature of between approximately 240° C. and approximately 350° C. and at a load of between approximately 0.5 m3H2/h and approximately 50 m3H2/h per liter of catalyst material in a methanol/water atmosphere. The reactor may be used in fuel-cell-operated motor vehicles for generating hydrogen for the fuel cells by means of the water vapor reforming of methanol.

Abstract: A system for the water vapor reforming of a hydrocarbon includes an evaporator, a prereforming unit, a main reformer, a CO removal unit and at least one catalytic burner unit. A first burner unit is in a thermal contact with the evaporator and a second burner unit is in a thermal contact with the main reformer, and the prereforming unit is in a thermal contact with the CO removal unit by way of one heat conducting separating medium. In addition, the outlet of the CO removal unit is connected with the inlet of the at least one burner unit. During a cold start, a heating-up operation is carried out during which first the two burner units are activated with an external feeding of hydrogen or hydrocarbon, and the reforming operation is started with a hydrocarbon fraction that is lower than in the normal operation. The resulting reformate gas, instead of the externally fed hydrogen or hydrocarbon, is introduced as fuel into the burner units.

Abstract: A fuel cell energy generating system which includes a reformate generating device that contains a hydrocarbon reforming reactor and produces a high-hydrogen reformate, has a fuel cell arrangement to which reformate generated by the reformate generating device can be fed on the inlet side by way of a reformate supply line, having at least one reformate-quality-indicating sensor arranged in the reformate flow path, and having a control unit. A valve is provided in the reformate supply line which can be controlled by the control unit such that it releases or interrupts the feeding of the reformate supplied by the reformate generating device into the fuel cell arrangement as a function of the output signal of the at least one reformate-quality-indicating sensor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a fuel cell system consisting of a fuel cell, a reformer for generating a hydrogen-rich gas, and a combustion chamber in which the fuel cell exhaust gases are oxidized to generate the heat energy required in the reformer. According to the invention, in those operating states in which the heat energy supplied to the reformer from the combustion chamber is insufficient, additional amounts of fuel and oxygen are supplied to the reformer, so that additional heat energy is produced directly in the reformer by the oxidation of the fuel. At the same time, during the oxidation of the fuel in the reformer, steam is produced that can be used in steam reformation. Advantageously, adjustment of the additional amount of fuel and the oxygen supplied is performed as a function of the reformer temperature.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for methanol reforming in producing hydrogen gas for electric vehicle fuel cells in which the gas mixture to be reformed is passed through a catalyst-containing reaction compartment. The active length and/or the active inlet cross-section of an intake-side reaction compartment section which is temperature-controlled for high methanol conversion can be set as a function of the throughput of gas mixture to be reformed. Thereby, an essentially constant residence period of the gas mixture to be reformed results in the reaction compartment section which is temperature-controlled for high methanol conversion. The methanol reforming may thus be carried out even in the case of markedly fluctuating throughputs of gas mixture to be reformed with a constant level of methanol conversion rate and constantly low formation of undesirable carbon monoxide.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for selective catalytic oxidation of carbon monoxide, the gas mixture and an additionally added oxidizing gas are conducted through a reactor containing the catalyst. Oxidizing gas is added at several points along the mixed gas flow path with a controlled or regulated through flow volume. The mixed gas stream is cooled passively by static mixing structures located in the inlet area of the CO-oxidation reactor. By controlling exothermal CO oxidation along the reactor path, a very variable process guidance is provided, that can be adjusted to individual situations.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for methanol reforming in producing hydrogen gas for electric vehicle fuel cells in which the gas mixture to be reformed is passed through a catalyst-containing reaction compartment. The active length and/or the active inlet cross-section of an intake-side reaction compartment section which is temperature-controlled for high methanol conversion can be set as a function of the throughput of gas mixture to be reformed. Thereby, an essentially constant residence period of the gas mixture to be reformed results in the reaction compartment section which is temperature-controlled for high methanol conversion. The methanol reforming may thus be carried out even in the case of markedly fluctuating throughputs of gas mixture to be reformed with a constant level of methanol conversion rate and constantly low formation of undesirable carbon monoxide.